Andre Ward vs Sergey Kovalev prediction: GGG's trainer chimes in

It might be the biggest fight of 2016... Sergey Kovalev vs Andre Ward.

Moreover, it could prove to be one of the biggest fights in light heavyweight history.

Ward vs Kovalev will take place November 19 on HBO pay-per-view live from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. At-stake will be Kovalev's light heavyweight titles, pound-for-pound supremacy and millions of dollars.

It's rare in boxing to see two unbeaten, top 5 pound-for-poundfighters who are believed to be in their primes get the opportunity to face one another, but that's what fans will get in November.

As of today, Ward vs Kovalev odds still have the challenger as a slight favorite.

bet365Favorite: Ward 4/6Underdog: Kovalev 6/5

SkyBETFavorite: Ward 4/6Underdog: Kovalev 11/10

Those who favor Ward believe he's too skilled and polished for his Russian foe while those who tab Kovalev believe the champion is too strong and relentless for the former United States Olympic Gold Medalist.

Never at a loss for words, Sanchez, whose fighter Sullivan Barrera lost to Ward last Spring, offered his Ward vs Kovalev prediction and didn't hold back.

"I still pick Kovalev to either win a decision or stop him late," Sanchez, who trained Sergey for a brief period a few tears ago, told FightHub TV.

"I think Kovalev is too much of a fighter for Andre. Andre is very skilled, but Kovalev is a full 175 pounder that can crack."

"This fight will be similar and reminiscent of Kovalev vs Hopkins."

Sanchez insists Ward was given the opportunity sizzle last March against Barrera, a fighter made to order for him, but failed. Ward, of course, won a lopsided unanimous decision in what was more of a workman-like performance than a showcase of Ward's craft.

Are there chinks in Sanchez's argument?

Maybe...

Boxing history has shown us some fighters, even legendary champions, fight to the level of their opposition.

Evander Holyfield, for instance, would often struggle against perceived lower level opposition but fought like Rocky Balboa against elite-level monsters who took the fight to him.

Despite his one-sided victory, Evander looked old and shopworn in dominating a fighter who truly shouldn't have been in the ring. He looked so vulnerable, Team Tyson offered Evander a shot title in his very next fight, assuming Mike would brutalize what was left of Evander in a PPV spectacle and showcase.

... But eight months later, Mike Tyson found himself on the wrong end of a TKO, compliments of Mr. Holyfield.

Andre Ward is more like Holyfield than Tyson or Kovalev. He's not going to steamroll every opponent and deliver that one-sided pounding every time he steps in the ring, regardless of the foe. However, as we saw against Chad Dawson, Ward, like Holyfield, is quite comfortable brutalizing opponents when the situation merits.